Kenya is one of the best safari destinations in Africa, offering incredible wildlife experiences, breathtaking landscapes, and a range of safari options for different budgets. But how much does a safari in Kenya cost? The answer depends on various factors, including the type of safari, accommodation, park fees, and additional expenses. In this guide, we break down the costs to help you plan your dream safari.
Budget Safaris ($100–$250 per person per day) – Group tours, camping safaris, and self-drive options.
Mid-Range Safaris ($250–$600 per person per day) – Comfortable lodges, small group tours, and guided experiences.
Luxury Safaris ($600–$2,500+ per person per day) – Private game drives, high-end lodges, and exclusive safari experiences.
Accommodation options range from budget campsites to luxury lodges:
Camping & Budget Lodges: $30–$100 per night
Mid-Range Lodges & Tented Camps: $150–$400 per night
Luxury Safari Lodges: $500–$2,000+ per night
Kenya’s national parks have different entry fees:
Maasai Mara National Reserve: $100 per adult per day
Amboseli National Park: $80 per adult per day
Samburu National Reserve: $70 per adult per day
Lake Nakuru National Park: $60 per adult per day
Road Transfers: $50–$150 per person (shared or private)
Domestic Flights: $150–$400 per trip (Nairobi to major parks like Maasai Mara)
Self-Drive Vehicle Rental: $80–$250 per day (4×4 recommended)
Most travelers book safari packages that include accommodation, meals, park fees, and game drives:
3-Day Budget Safari: $300–$800 per person
5-Day Mid-Range Safari: $1,200–$2,500 per person
7-Day Luxury Safari: $4,000–$12,000 per person
Tips & Gratuities: $5–$20 per day for guides and lodge staff
Drinks & Meals (outside packages): $10–$50 per meal
Souvenirs & Cultural Visits: $10–$100
Travel During the Low Season (March–May & November) for discounts on lodges and park fees.
Join Group Safaris to share costs on transport and guides.
Book in Advance to get the best rates.
Opt for Self-Drive Safaris if you’re comfortable navigating Kenyan roads.
Budget Travelers: $500–$1,500 for a 3–5 day safari
Mid-Range Travelers: $2,000–$4,000 for a 5–7 day safari
Luxury Travelers: $5,000+ for an exclusive safari experience
Whether you’re looking for an affordable adventure or a luxury escape, Kenya offers a safari experience for every traveler. Start planning your trip and get ready for an unforgettable journey into the wild!
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
